One of the biggest lessons I’m trying to drill into my six kids is this: always do your research. The internet is a crazy place, and it’s only getting crazier. I tell them all the time—“check the source.” (Which, to be fair, they’ve been hearing since before they could walk, thanks to being raised by a journalist.)
But even with all my pep talks, I still worry. Because rumors don’t just live online. Oh no. They pop up in the most unexpected places… like church.
Over the years, I’ve heard everything from:
- “Sister So-and-so saw Brother What’s His Face coming out of the liquor store.”
- “If your kids watch the Smurfs, they’ll turn to Satan,”
- and my personal favorite, “The rapture is coming on September 23.”
Spoiler alert: we’re all still here.
Some of y’all clearly were not raised on Larry Boy and the Rumor Weed and it shows!
It reminds me of the Bereans in Acts 17. Paul shows up preaching, and instead of just nodding along, the Bereans fact-checked him.
“They examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” Acts 17:11
Can you imagine if we handled church rumors the same way? “Pastor, I hear you, but let me just double-check Leviticus before I sell my house and move to a bunker.”
Proverbs 18:13 says,
“To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.”
Translation: don’t open your mouth (or repost that meme) until you’ve checked your facts.
So yes, my kids are growing up in a rumor-filled, clickbait world. And yes, that terrifies me a little. But my prayer is that they’ll be like the Bereans—curious, discerning, and rooted in God’s Word. And if they hear someone say the Smurfs are part of Satan’s army, I hope they’ll laugh first… then go do a little research.
So today, as they head off to school, I’m whispering this prayer over them.
Lord, give my kids discerning hearts. Teach them to love truth, to seek Your Word before believing every whisper, and to walk in wisdom when the world (or even the church) gets loud with rumors. And give me the patience to keep reminding them—yes, even for the hundredth time—to check the source. Amen.
(Also, a little note: some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog—and this mama—running on coffee and grace 💛.)
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